| Buying or adopting any kind of pet is a commitment | | | | human being! Not taking a particular animal's life span |
| of both time and money, not to mention an | | | | into account is also a problem for large parrot |
| emotional investment! Yes, reptile owners really do | | | | owners, and many of these creatures are either |
| love their pets even though they aren't necessarily of | | | | abandoned or need to be put into wills when their |
| the furry and cuddly variety. Because reptiles are | | | | owners pass away before them. Certain very |
| exotic and require special equipment and care, | | | | expensive lizards have relatively short life spans and |
| potential owners should never rush to choose their | | | | you may not want to spend so much on a pet that |
| new pet: here are three things to consider. | | | | won't be around as long as you would like. |
| 1. Potential size | | | | 3. Everyday care |
| All reptiles are cute and easy to house when they | | | | Proper reptile care on a day-to-day basis requires |
| are babies. But when choosing your pet, you must be | | | | plenty of specialized equipment and special diets too. |
| realistic for both your sakes! Keep in mind that a | | | | The survival of most reptiles requires the use of heat |
| small ball python or red tail boa will eventually grow | | | | mats, reptile lighting, misters, and ever-increasing |
| to be at least 4 to 5 feet long. The same thing goes | | | | enclosure sizes. You must be committed to providing |
| for certain species of lizards such as iguanas. Too | | | | your reptile with the optimal environment to not just |
| many reptiles that outgrew their owners' | | | | survive, but thrive. |
| expectations are set free to fend for themselves | | | | Reptiles make great, hypo-allergenic pets for families |
| and wreak havoc on local ecosystems. Think ahead | | | | of all shapes and sizes. Just be smart and realistic |
| to the adult size of a pet and choose wisely. | | | | during your selection process and choose a pet that |
| 2. Consider a reptile's life span | | | | will fit nicely into your particular lifestyle. |
| Certain species of tortoises can live as long as a | | | | |